Four Jacksonville firefighters have been sidelined following their arrests in connection with a paintball incident that left vehicles, including a police cruiser, damaged.
While investigating damage to a cruiser in the LaVilla neighborood in December, deputies saw green paint splatters along the road. Another driver also reported damage.
As deputies determined that the paint had some from “a high-velocity launcher at an elevated location,” they saw firefighters quickly entering a fire station, First Coast News reported.
The firefighters told the officers there was an “ongoing prank war between fire stations.”
Police found 14 red and green paintballs on the roof of the fire station as well as recently washed paintball shells.
Four firefighters were charged Friday with misdemeanor criminal mischief and booked into the Duval County Jail.
Following the arrests, Jacksonville Fire Rescue officials wrote in a statement: “The four individuals, have been reassigned to administrative duties pending the outcome of an internal JFRD investigation. This incident will have no impact on public safety or JFRD operations. The station where this occurred remains fully staffed with qualified personnel.”
The firefighters were on duty when the incident occurred.